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Rehearsing Relapse Teaches Coping Skills

NCJ Number
122990
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1990) Pages: 172,174,176,178
Author(s)
R H Peters; A S Dolente
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
In addition to providing intensive intervention for pretrial jail inmates in need of drug treatment, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office project (Florida) teaches inmates coping skills for avoiding relapse after release and provides aftercare community services and monitoring.
Abstract
Inmates in the drug treatment program are taught to identify several high-risk situations that occur with recovering drug abusers. Inmates learn strategies for dealing with cravings for drugs, social refusal skills, assertiveness techniques, strategies for anger control, and methods for handling frustration and conflict. Inmates are also instructed in long-term strategies to stay abstinent and change lifestyles. These include building new social networks, developing drug-free leisure activities, and using existing networks of community drug treatment and vocational/educational services. Inmates are also taught to prepare for relapses. Upon release, inmates are referred to a variety of community treatment services. Program evaluation and the tracking of released inmates is conducted by the Florida Mental Health Institute. Preliminary results suggest that the program is effective in reducing drug use. 6 references.